Open AccessTracheoesophageal fistula managed with tracheal stent through flexible bronchoscopy without fluoroscopy
Author(s) -
Grigoris Stratakos,
Charalambos Zisis,
Ion Bellenis,
Vasiliki Filaditaki,
Adamantia Liapikou,
Spyros Zakynthinos,
Charis Roussos
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
monaldi archives for chest disease. pulmonary series/monaldi archives for chest disease/monaldi archives for chest disease. cardiac series
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.196
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 2465-101X
pISSN - 1122-0643
DOI - 10.4081/monaldi.2006.554
Subject(s) - fluoroscopy , medicine , tracheoesophageal fistula , stent , bronchoscopy , esophageal stent , fistula , radiology , surgery , flexible bronchoscopy , complication
Inoperable malignant tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) is characterised by an extremely poor prognosis. Tracheal or double (tracheal-esophageal) stenting through rigid bronchoscopy has been suggested as a valuable therapeutic option. We report on a patient with a large TEF successfully sealed by deployment of a self-expandable stent through flexible bronchoscopy (FB) without fluoroscopy. Dramatically improved health status permitted him to undergo radiation, attaining further clinical improvement. Four months after stent placement no sequelae were observed. During the fifth month a new fistula developed distally to the stent finally leading to death from septic complication. Palliative management of inoperable malignant TEF by tracheal stent placement through FB without fluoroscopy, is feasible, safe and rewarding leading to important clinical improvement.